Month of May 2010

     The Widow of Zarephath

 The Lesson Faith by Ordinary People (I Kings 17:8ff)

     One of greatest lessons of life is to be ruled by "faith" instead of "fear".  It was during famine that God sent Elijah to a widow in Sidon.  The famine was prophesied to King Ahab by the prophet just a few months earlier (17:1).  In the course of time, Elijah showed up at the widow's doorstep asking for food and water (17:10).  The widow had only a bit of water and flour, enough to make one meal for her and her son.  Afterwards she was ready to lay down and die.  However Elijah issued her a promise: "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.  For thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'The bowl shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.' (v.13,14)

    This woman was faced with a choice.  She could have obeyed the voice of the Lord, thus acting in faith----or ------she could have disobeyed the voice of God by acting out in fleshly fear.   Fear always paralyzes us "backward" but faith propels us "forward".  How did she respond?

Look at what the text says:  "So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate many days.   The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke through Elijah." (v.15,16)

   This woman, when given the opportunity, responded in faith not fear.  She believed in God's provision.  The text indicates she did not even deliberate.  She just simply did what was commanded when the opposite seemed so real and true.  It was a famine!  She only had enough for one meal! She had to believe God would multiply the flour and oil.  

   What are you facing today in your life? Does God want you to look beyond your immediate and possibly dire circumstances to trust and obey what seems the impossible?  Fret not!  God specializes in the impossible.   We just need to step out in faith and obey!

   In His grace, John Jones, CrossLife Ministries Director